A quick physical exam of the head, nose, throat and muscular and skeletal systems

Concerns that could create possible heart or lung problems, including asthma

In addition to these things, regular physical includes a physician looking at:

A child’s growth over time

How a child is doing in school

How a child is doing at home

Behavioral concerns

Family medical history

At Premier Physician Network, the importance of scheduling yearly well-child exams is stressed, as they help catch and diagnose medical conditions early, allowing a plan of attack to be put into place right away. If your child has not had a well-child exam this year, please call to schedule it with your family physician or pediatrician.

What is the difference between energy drinks and sports drinks?

Sports drinks and energy drinks are very different, but they often can be confused, especially by teenagers, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

An energy drink contains substances that act as stimulants, including caffeine, guarana and taurine, according to the AAP. Some energy drinks contain more than 500 mg of caffeine, which is about the amount of caffeine as in 14 cans of soda.

Sports drinks contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes and flavoring. According to the AAP, sports drinks are supposed to replace water and electrolytes that have been lost through sweating.

For more information about the difference between energy drinks and sports drinks, talk with your physician.

How can energy or sports drinks be harmful for children or adolescents?

Dr. Ruff discusses energy drinks and sports drinks. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How can energy or sports drinks be harmful for children or adolescents?

Energy or sports drinks can be harmful for children and adolescents because they contain a lot of other ingredients. Things like caffeine. Caffeine can increase the heart rate, can increase the blood pressure. Interestingly, caffeine is also a diuretic so often times that’s causing you to lose some of the fluids you’ve been trying to replace. Sometimes those drinks also have a high amount of sugar and calories that are not necessary.

Both energy drinks and sports drinks can be harmful for children and adolescents, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Energy drinks contains stimulants, such as caffeine, guarana and taurine, according to the AAP. For example, some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as about 14 cans of soda – about 500 mg.

Energy drinks can be a health risk because these stimulants should not be consumed by children and adolescents, according to the AAP.

Sports drinks contain carbohydrates and electrolytes that are supposed to replace these elements when they are lost through sweating during long stretches of physical activity, according the AAP.

Children don’t need the extra calories contained in sports drinks during their daily routine, according to the AAP. These drinks can contribute to obesity and tooth decay.

Talk to your physician for more information about the harmful effects energy drinks and sports drinks can have on children.

What is the best way for children to hydrate before and after participating in sports?

Dr. Ruff discusses the best way for children to hydrate before and after sports activities. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What is the best way for children to hydrate before and after participating in sports?

The best way for kids, and quite frankly everyone, to hydrate before and after sports is with water. It’s simple, it’s cheap, it’s easy and it’s certainly the healthiest option for anyone.

To keep kids hydrated, water is usually the best option, according to Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).

Sports drinks contain carbohydrates and electrolytes that are supposed to replace these elements when they are lost through sweating during long stretches of physical activity, according the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Sports drinks are usually only helpful for highly intense activity that last longer than an hour. With normal play, having a healthy snack and a drink of cold water during a break is a much better option, according to the HSPH.

It is also good to avoid soda and juices because they are high in sugar, which shows down how the body absorbs sugar, according to the HSPH.

By sticking with water before and after sports, parents can help keep their kids hydrated and refreshed, according to the AAP.

Talk to your doctor for more information about the best way to keep children hydrated before and after sports.

What is a concussion?

Getting hit on the head, a fall or by a hard hit to the body that causes the head to be thrown quickly forward and back all are common causes of a concussion, according to the CDC. The hit or fall jars the brain around and changes the way the brain would normally work.

Concussions are sometimes known as “mild” brain injuries because usually they aren’t life threatening, according to the CDC, but they should still be considered serious injuries.

What are symptoms of a concussion?

Concussion symptoms aren’t always noticeable right away, according to the National Institutes of Health
Some symptoms don’t show up and become problems until days, weeks or even months after the head injury. Some symptoms, according to the NIH, include:

Anxiety

Blurry vision

Concentration problems

Difficulty remembering new things

Dizziness

Extra sleepy

Feeling mentally fuzzy

Headache

Irritability

Lack of energy

Loss of consciousness for a short time

Nausea

Overly emotional

Sadness

Sensitivity to light and sounds

Trouble sleeping

Having the following symptoms can mean a much more severe concussion, according to the NIH:

Balance problems

Loss of consciousness for a long time

Ongoing confusion

Repeated vomiting

Seizures

Unequal size of pupils

Unusual eye movements

Weak muscles on one or both sides

For more information about concussion symptoms, talk with your doctor.

What places a child at a higher risk for a concussion?

Having had a previous concussion or other kind of brain injury can greatly increase the risk of having another concussion, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Premier Physician Network and Premier Physician Network’s physicians also point to previous brain surgery, brain cysts or scar tissue in the brain as issues that could increase the risk of concussions. Certain types of infections also can increase the risk.

Having ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities and migraines also lead to a higher risk of a child suffering a concussion, according to Premier Physician Network’s physicians.

Talk to your doctor for more information about what can put your child at a higher risk for a concussion.

How important is it for families to be educated about the risks of drowning?

Dr. Weber discusses the importance of families being educated about the risks of drowning. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How important is it for families to be educated about the risks of drowning?

Educating families about the risk of drowning is very important. In our country or the United States, death by downing is the second most common cause of non-accidental death in kids from one to nineteen, so it's relatively common, unfortunately. I think, a lot of times, kids are swimming. They don't realize the risk, unless they're in trouble, and sometimes then it's too late. Lack of adequate supervision, over estimating your skills as a swimmer, especially the younger people. I don't think we see it as much, but it used to be, which is where that position came out with parents who say, ‘I took my three year old to a swim class. He can swim.’ No, that's more of a water awareness class. As I said, since that time, newer research said those kids do slightly better, but it's not like they're an adult swimmer because they took a toddler swim class, and that's really for kids from one till four. It's more about education, having many levels of education, as far as how to provide safety, than just doing any one thing.

Making sure your family is educated about the risks of drowning is an important part of discussing water safety, according to Premier HealthNet (PPN) physicians.

Though drowning rates have fallen steadily since 1985, it continues to be the second leading cause of death for children between 1 and 19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Being too casual about pool and swimming safety can lead to an increased risk for drowning, especially if families don’t have their pools properly secured or if they over estimate a child’s swimming skill, according to PPN physicians.

Talk to your doctor for more information about what you can do to make sure your family is well educated about drowning risks.

What are steps a family can take to reduce the risk of drowning?

Dr. Weber discusses steps to help reduce the risks of drowning. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What are steps a family can take to reduce the risk of drowning?

Safety is very important, but it starts with, especially people that own pools, knowing all those things, and, of course, if you're swimming in a lake, a pond, a body of water where you're not sure what's going on, you have to consider the current, the depth of the water, the safety of the water. So basic drowning prevention measures for families include, if they have their own pool, make sure it's properly fenced and gated, making sure that swimming is always supervised, making sure that whenever possible the swimmers are trained to swim, and not making assumptions about their level of swimming skills, and then, also, it's really recommended that those families who have a pool should be CPR trained, and have a good idea of how to get ahold of local emergency services and have 911 available, if needed.

Be aware of underwater risks – In open water, be aware of sharp rocks or other dangers. In a pool, be aware of drains that hair or small arms and legs can get stuck in.

Build barriers – If you have a pool at home, installing isolation fencing and using a rigid pool cover can add a layer of protection against drowning.

Know how deep the water is – Don’t allow diving in shallow areas of pools, ponds, or open water.

Learn CPR – Parents and caregivers, especially if you own a pool, should know CPR in case of emergency.

Never leave a child alone in or near water – Whether it’s a family pool, pond, blow-up baby pool, bucket of water, or a bathtub, an adult should be supervising children every minute.

Teach children to swim – It is recommended that children 4 and older take swimming classes to help reduce the risk of drowning. Not all children will be ready to develop swimming skills at the same age.

Use a life jacket – Inflatable arm bands and swim rings are not a substitute for a life jacket.

Watch closely -Infants and toddlers should be within arm’s length. Older children and better swimmers should still have an adult’s focused attention. Even if your child has had swim lessons, there is a difference between learning to swim for fun and swimming for safety or rescue. Drowning can happen quickly, so close supervision, even in very shallow water, is important.

What are the warning signs that a person might be at risk of drowning?

Dr. Weber discusses the warning signs that someone might be at risk of drowning. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What are the warning signs that a person might be at risk of drowning?

There are clearly different populations and type of children that are at higher risk for ... Or be at risk for drowning. The very young, so children less than a year of age are at a higher risk, and then teenagers, because they can, also, participate in other activities that maybe affect their judgment or loosen their inhibitions, so, unfortunately, drug use or drinking, that becomes associated with water sports, whether that's swimming, or water craft, or canoeing, or kayaking. All those things can lead to change in judgments, which can cause increased risk. The last group is obviously children who have medical problems, kids that are intellectually impaired or especially have a history of a seizure disorder. Those children, of course, regardless of their age and even for adults, should never be allowed to swim alone. Whenever possible, they should take showers rather than baths. They need to take their medications, so the risk of seizures are lower, and they should always be observed by swimming either with a partner, like I said, or by a lifeguard or an adult who can observe them to watch for any suspicious behavior or to make sure they're swimming appropriately.

There are a few different groups of people who are at higher risk of drowning than others, according Premier HealthNet (PPN) physicians.

Very young children – especially those less than a year old – are at higher risk of drowning, according to PPN physicians.

Teenagers also tend to be at increased risk of drowning because they may participate in water activities, such as swimming, canoeing, and kayaking, while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to PPN physicians. With their lowered inhibitions, their downing risk increases.

People with medical conditions, especially children with a history of seizure disorder, should not be left alone to swim because of their increased risk of downing. It is safest to make sure people with a history of seizures are watched closely by an adult or swim with a partner, according to PPN physicians.

How do I decrease my child’s anxiety about starting school?

Dr. Lauricella discusses pediatric health concerns. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How do I decrease my child’s anxiety about starting school?

Transitions, especially for the young kids who are going back to school, are anxious. Kids have a lot of reasons to be upset or feel somewhat uneasy going back to school or going to school for the first time and a good technique for parents is going to introduce the school. So, if you can get into the school, show them around. Also, it’s important for parents when they are doing this, kids are very empathic. They pick up on our own emotions about school and if you can check yourself a little bit and make sure you’re not exuding fear and anxiety about the school or expectations, that’s very helpful. The last thing I think is very important is that a lot of parents will trip up on is to acknowledge the kids’ anxiety, not belittle it. That is, instead of saying, “Oh, there is nothing to be afraid of,” try and simply say, “Hey, I can see that you’re upset. I know that this is something that you’re afraid of or maybe you don’t want to do, but we all have to do things we don’t want to do.” You can use going to work, for example, or if you have to work on a holiday or something or just try to explain to them, that this is part of life and you will feel better eventually. You can tell also tell them stories about your first few days of school. Believe it or not, I remember the first time my mom dropped me off and she walked away.

Physicians often encourage parents to get their children into routines – bath time, bedtime, meals – because they can help create a sense of comfort and calm.

The transition of first starting school, changing grades or changing schools can be difficult for children because it changes their routine.

Parents can help ease anxiety about school by:

Visiting the school and/or classroom in advance

Keeping your own anxieties from your children

Not belittling the child’s feelings

Relating stories of your childhood, for example, about your first day of school

Talk with your child’s physician for more information about how to help your child feel comfortable about starting school.

Why are childhood immunizations important?

Dr. Lauricella discusses pediatric health concerns. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

Why are childhood immunizations important?

In my opinion, vaccinations and childhood vaccinations are probably the single greatest achievement of modern medicine. They’re important because kids used to die or ended up paralyzed from these diseases that are now entirely preventable. Why we don’t see them anymore is because people are getting vaccinated. Why we start hearing reports of them coming back is generally in populations that are not getting vaccinated. I consider it a civic duty, even a moral duty, to take care of your kids, get them vaccinated, prevent the diseases, even if it’s a disease that you might not get, but could carry, you’re exposing other people to diseases that might be very serious in the elderly, like flu vaccine, for instance. Certainly the days where the hospitals were full every summer from polio are gone, simply because of the vaccines. They are easy. They are not dangerous and I don’t want to see a return of preventable childhood diseases.

Childhood immunizations are important because they prevent people from getting certain diseases.

Some people believe that immunizations are not important anymore because the diseases that the immunizations prevent are not common anymore. But, physicians insist the reason these diseases are not common anymore is because so many people have been vaccinated and protected against them.

Many schools require children be vaccinated against certain diseases before starting school. Find out what immunizations your child’s school requires.

Making sure children are up-to-date with immunizations is the best way to protect your family, school and community from outbreaks of unnecessary illnesses and deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more information about why childhood immunizations are important, talk with your physician.

What types of immunizations should children receive before they start school?

Before children start kindergarten, they are required by the state of Ohio to have certain up-to-date immunizations, according to the Ohio

Department of Health (ODH).

The following immunizations are required for Ohio students entering kindergarten, according to the ODH:

DTaP – Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis

Hep B – Hepatitis B

MMR – Measles, mumps and rubella

Polio

Varicella – Chickenpox

Making sure your children are up-to-date on their vaccines before they first start school and throughout their school years is one of the most important things a parent can do, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Protecting your children against vaccine-preventable diseases also helps protect their friends, classmates and the community overall, according to the CDC.

Talk to your physician for more information about immunizations needed before children start school.

How can I tell if my child has the back-to-school jitters or if it is something more serious?

It can be common for children to feel anxious about going back to school. Every new school year brings new challenges and a new routine to get used to.

It is normal for children to say they don’t want to go to school or even that they feel sick or have a stomach ache. In those situations, parents should try to get children to feel comfortable with the upcoming school year, but they likely don’t have bigger issues to worry about.

If, however, your child completely changes his or her personality and becomes withdrawn, it might be more than just a case of the jitters.

Red flags for kindergarten and elementary children:

Behavioral problems

Becoming overly withdrawn

Frequent complaints of feeling sick

Red flags for middle school children:

Becoming overly withdrawn

Stop doing things they enjoy

Neglect hobbies

Avoid certain activities

Frequent complaints of feeling sick

Talk with your child’s physician for more information about your child’s back-to-school reaction and how to best address it.

What should a family look for when researching a primary care physician or pediatrician?

Dr. Lauricella discusses pediatric health concerns. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What should a family look for when researching a primary care physician or pediatrician?

We graduate wonderful physicians in this country and in terms of being competent or skilled or knowing how to take care of children, if they’re family practice or pediatrics, they do. They know how to take care of kids. So, then the question is: How, the rapport between the family and the physician. Now, most people get their referrals -- who do I go to, where do I go -- by talking to other people. Actually that’s probably a good way of doing it: Talk to people at work, talk to people around you. You can do some background research once you get a few names, certainly, and see what hospitals they’re affiliated, where are their offices. Things I would look for in a primary care doctor: are they close by, because, honestly, no matter how good they are, you don’t want to be driving an hour and half to see the doc. Not just when is the next available appointment, but you can somehow ask a question like, “Hey, how many appointments do you have open in a day for same day appointments?”, because a lot of people have one. But two or three or five openings in a day seems reasonable at the beginning of the day to fill in those acute things. How quickly can a person get seen for a sudden illness? If they are booking two weeks out, that’s a problem, in my opinion and they should be able to see you that day or the next day, especially if they are seeing kids. Are weekend hours important to you? And that’s just a very simple question. Once you are there, trust your gut. This sounds funny, but, would you loan a book to this person. If you say to yourself, “No, I wouldn’t,” then you probably don’t want to see them as a doc. So really trust your gut and it’s okay to go in and see somebody once and say, you know, we’re going to go check out somebody else. That’s okay. It’s really hard to get out a physician-patient relationship after you’ve been there for five years and you’re managing a difficult disease. So, those are some simple things: Availability, and just what your gut feeling off how they communicate with you.

When you first start looking for a family physician or pediatrician, talk with people at work, friends and family for their recommendations. Once you have a few in mind, do some research on their background,

Some important things to keep in mind:

What hospitals are they affiliated with?

Where are their offices? Are they near your home?

How many appointments do they have open in a day?

How quickly can a person get seen for a sudden sickness?

Do they have evening or weekend hours?

Do you and would your family have a good rapport with this person?

What does your gut instinct tell you about the doctor once you meet them?

If you meet a physician or pediatrician and don’t feel comfortable with them, it’s your responsibility to meet another one to make sure you find someone who you trust will provide you and your family the best care and experience.

Why is it important for kids to continue to get an annual well-check even when they appear healthy?

Dr. Ruff discusses the importance of taking kids to annual well-check visits. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

Why is it important for kids to continue to get an annual well-check even when they appear healthy?

It is important for kids to continue to get that annual well check so we can assure they stay well. We want to assure they are getting all their current prevention, make sure their immunizations are up to date, checking their vitals, checking their blood pressure, checking their pulse, making sure they are at a healthy weight. We also want to set healthy habits for later in life.

Annual well-child visits are an important chance for your children’s doctor not only to make sure they are caught up on vaccines, but also to check their development, behavior and overall well-being, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Some things your children’s doctor might look into, according to the AAP, are any concerns about:

Attention

Eating

Learning problems

Sleeping

Social behaviors

Toilet training

Well-child visits can help identify possible concerns about your children’s health, including hearing problems, vision problems or learning disorders, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

There is more time to focus on your children’s overall health at a well-child visit because there is not the immediate focus on any sickness they might have. To make the most of your time with your children’s doctor, the AAP recommends making a list of three to five questions or concerns you want to address during the visit.

For more information about the importance of your children’s well-child visits, talk with your child’s physician.

These checks are important not only to establish your children’s current state of wellness, but also to make sure they are up-to-date on vaccines and that they are hitting age-appropriate growth, development and behavior milestones, according to the AAP.

Make a list to take with you to each well-check about any questions or concerns you want to talk to your child’s physician about. The AAP recommends the list includes any concerns you have about your child’s:

Eating habits

Learning problems

Sleeping habits

Social behaviors

For more information about why well-child visits are important, even as children grow up, talk with your child’s doctor.

What are some common misconceptions about childhood immunizations?

People sometimes get concerned about getting their children immunized, but vaccinations are in your child’s best interest.

Some common misconceptions about childhood immunizations include:

Misconception: Getting multiple vaccines at once can be harmful – Fact: Whether a child gets one vaccine or multiple vaccines at the same visit makes no difference to the health of the child.

Misconception: Vaccines can cause autism – Fact: There has been no proven connections between vaccines and autism. Premier Physician Network’s Dr. Anessa Alappatt said that though sometimes people are concerned about vaccines, “in no way is there any harm that a vaccine might cause in comparison to the risk of the illness.”

Misconception: Children who are nursing don’t need immunizations – Fact: Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for your baby and might keep your child from getting many colds, but it does not prevent infections the way vaccinations do.

Misconception: Children don’t need vaccines because these diseases have almost been eliminated in the U.S. – Fact: Immunizations are the reason the diseases have decreased in the United States. Without the vaccines, it could still be possible for your child to catch infectious diseases that cause serious illnesses.

Talk with your child’s family doctor or pediatrician for more information about vaccines and any concerns you might have.

Studies continue to prove how important it is that kids not skip breakfast, according to the AAP. Students who eat breakfast score higher on math and reading scores and improve their speed and memory on cognitive tests.

Studies also show that children who eat breakfast at school – closer to the start of the school day than if they ate at home – score better on standardized tests, according to the AAP.

For more information about the childhood nutrition talk with your doctor.

What are harmful foods that can negatively affect a child’s learning?

Dr. Allen discusses food that can negatively affect a child’s learning. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What are harmful foods that can negatively affect a child’s learning?

Harmful foods that can negatively impact a child’s learning. A lot of the processed foods, junk food such as that, you want this child to be eating a well-balanced diet; fruits, vegetables you know the occasional junk food here and there is okay; but they are staple of their diet it's not going to work out well for them. Their learning is going to be negatively impacted by that, they are not going to be able to stay awake; they are not going to be able to concentrate on things that they need to. So you want to keep that diet as balanced as possible.

Too much junk food – especially fast food – can have a negative effect on a child’s ability to learn.

According to a study printed in journal Clinical Pediatrics, kids who ate fast food at least four times a week had lower test scores in reading, math and science than kids who had had no fast food.

Diets high in fats and sugars and low in nutrients have been shown to hurt immediate memory, learning processes and cognitive development, according to the study.

To learn more about how unhealthy food can affect learning, talk with your doctor.

Does an unbalanced diet and its link to childhood obesity affect learning?

Dr. Allen discusses how an unbalanced diet and childhood obesity can affect learning. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

Does an unbalanced diet and its link to childhood obesity affect learning?

I think an imbalanced diet and the link to obesity which is very strong can have a negative impact on learning and it's probably not directly impacted as far as they aren't able to process the information and retain the information. It's likely due to factors outside of that. If the kid is larger, tends to be more apt to have bullying and things in school that were going to affect his learning ability if he is not on any balanced diet he is probably not going to be able to concentrate quite as well, so he will be off, you know maybe tired and falling asleep in class.

There you want to have that balanced diet as best you can. You want to try to bring or the reign in the childhood obesity as much as you can. There are certainly genetic factors that are beyond our control, but you do everything you can with modifiable stuff. So, get the kids active when you can, definitely make them a balanced diet if you can and it will help minimize the obesity and hopefully help them learn a little bit easier in class and or move some of those distractions they may have.

Eating an unbalanced diet and the link that has to childhood obesity has a negative effect on learning, according to Premier HealthNet (PPN) physicians.

Poor diet and childhood obesity can make it difficult for children to remember information and to process what they’ve learned, according to PPN physicians.

Students living with childhood obesity also suffer from chances of other issues, such as bullying and social discrimination, according to LetsMove.gov, a website dedicated to the campaign that strives to raise a healthier generation of children.

These social aspects can also affect a child’s concentration and interest in school, making learning more of a challenge, according to PPN physicians and LetsMove.gov.

For more information about how diet an obesity affect learning, talk with your doctor.

How much screen time should a child have each day?

Dr. Allen discusses how much screen time a child can have. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How much screen time should a child have each day?

How much screen time should a child have each day is a very, it's a very diverse kind of topic as far as the kids go. Different families, different kids can handle different amounts. The kid that sits in front of the television or the iPad or the computer for 20 hours a day is far too much. The kid that gets no screen time maybe too little, maybe they need some of that stimuli to help them learn. There certainly are very good programs out there to help these kids with that. So, it's really up to the parents on how much screen time each kids get.

There are studies done by the American Academy of Pediatrics to show that you know anything more than, you know two or three hours is too much. But I really think it's depending on the family and the child and how you handle that. It also depends on the content. If they are, if it's four hours a day of videogames it's probably not the same as two hours a day of learning program maybe. So it's really very dependent on the child and the family. Really whatever they are comfortable with I think, you know the physician or the school should be comfortable with, but there can be excesses and you know there obviously can be some drawback to it as well.

Screen time is a term used to talk about any kind of activity done in front of a screen, including watching TV, playing video games, or working on a computer or a tablet.

While these activities can be beneficial from time to time, they keep people away from being physically active and don’t promote a healthy lifestyle, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In young children, too much screen time each day, according to the NIH, can cause:

Attention problems

Anxiety

Depression

Difficulty sleeping

Weight gain

The current guideline for screen time, according to the NIH, are as follows:

Children under 2 years old - no screen time

Children over 2 years old – limited screen time of 1 to 2 hours each day

Talk to your doctor for more information about how much screen time is right for your child.

What steps can a caregiver take to reduce the amount of screen time their child has each day?

Dr. Allen discusses how to reduce a child’s screen time. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What steps can a caregiver take to reduce the amount of screen time their child has each day?

It's a simple answer, but it's very difficult to do with the kids. You remove the electronics, you turn off the TV, so it's very simple. It's very hard to go through with that because we are busy in our lives. We are running around, we are trying to get these kids to you know, to have something to keep their interest. So to remove that screen time from the kids can be done pretty simply by just turning things off. There are some families that go no screen time or no electronic time after a certain point and time in the day. Maybe six, 7 o’clock, you know sit down to eat dinner and you know they take all the screens off and what have you. I think it just once again depends on the family, it depends on the child. You know what's the easiest way of doing is just turn it off. How do you go through with that and how do you stay consistent with that with your children and it can be very difficult, but that’s the key, stay consistent you know and make a decision that works for you and the child at home.

Many children in the U.S. spend about five to seven hours in front of all types of screens, including about three hours watching TV, and the rest playing on computers or video games, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

It is recommended that children under 2 have no screen time and children 2 and older have no more than two hours of screen time per day, according to the NIH. More screen time than that can cause health problems, including anxiety, sleep trouble and obesity.

The NIH recommends the following steps to help cut down on your child’s screen time:

Be a good role model. Decrease your screen time also to only two hours a day

Decide which shows you will watch in advance, and turn the TV off when those are done

Do not leave the TV on just for background noise. Choose the radio instead if you must have noise

Keep track of the time you spend in front of the TV and have a goal of spending the same amount of time being active

Many TVs have a sleep function that will turn the TV off automatically when you set it. Use that to make sure you stick with your plan

No snacks during computer or tablet time

Plan a family challenge to go a whole day or week without watching TV or doing other screen activities, and find other things to do together instead

Plan other indoor activities, such as board games, puzzles, crafts or blocks

Plan outdoor activities, such as walks, biking, going to a park, or playing with a ball

Remove the TV from a child’s bedroom

Turn off the TV at homework time

Turn off the TV during meals and snacks

Making choices to do things that don’t involve screen time can help your whole family – especially your children – live a healthier lifestyle and be more active.

For more ideas about how to cut down screen time, talk with your doctor.

Should a child stretch before exercising?

Dr. Lauricella discusses pediatric health concerns. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

Should a child stretch before exercising?

It’s always a good idea, especially if you’re new to exercising or if your kid is new to exercising, to do a little bit of warm up and stretching, just to get the muscles going, just so you know that nothing is hurting or anything like that. Just so you know the limits of what you can do. Most coaches are starting kids with either Little League or soccer or even swimming, will have kids do, do some warm ups. But the important time is after exercise. The important time for injury prevention is after exercise and I’m seeing a lot more teams work with this, trying to get the kids to stretch.

All children – especially those new to exercising – should stretch before getting started.

Stretching is a good way to warm up the muscles and increase flexibility to help prevent injuries.

It is also important for children to stretch after exercise.

Stretching after exercise helps in injury prevention by letting your body gradually slow down to its original state.

Talk to your physician for more information about the importance of children stretching before and after exercise.

Can children experience serious injuries on bikes?

Children can be very seriously injured in bicycle accidents, especially if they are not following proper safety steps.According to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), head injuries accounted for 63 percent of all bicycle-related fatalities in children ages 0 to 19.

Helmets prevent brain injuries and are the most important piece of safety equipment for children riding bikes, according to the ODH.

Wearing other protective gear – such as knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards – can also protect children while biking and help prevent broken bone, according to the ODH.

Talk to your child’s doctor for more information about biking causing serious injuries.

Are there certain safety issues caregivers should review with children during summer each year?

Dr. Ruff discusses summer safety issues to discuss with children. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

Are there certain safety issues caregivers should review with children during summer each year?

Certain safety issues should be reviewed with your children every year. The most important of which is probably the proper use of equipment and any safety equipment that is used with it, especially with bike riding you want to wear your bicycle helmets. We also want to review sun safety issues -- the use of sunscreen and making sure you stay hydrated. You also want to review pool safety, so wearing the appropriate safety equipment in the pool if you are unable to swim and certainly making sure you always have an adult available to supervise your swimming.

After being cooped up inside during the cold winter months, most kids and families can’t wait to get outside and enjoy summer’s warm weather. Spending more time outside, however, comes with the responsibility of addressing safety issues with children before the fun begins. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following sun and water fun safety tips to discuss with kids:

Bicycle safety

Always wear your helmet

Wear knee and elbow pads

Only ride your bike with adult supervision in safe areas with little or no traffic

Bug/outdoor animal safety

Don’t play with or pick up bugs and animals that are not familiar to you

Fireworks safety

Fireworks – and the lighters or matches used to ignite them – are for adult use only

Sparklers can be fun, but should only be used with an adult’s help and guidance

Lawn mower safety

Lawn mowers are not toys. They are only for older kids (16 and older on a riding mower and 12 and older with a walk-behind mower) and adults to use

Dirt, stone and other objects can fly from the mower. Stay away from all mowers when they are in use

Playground safety

Shoes must stay on at all times

Do not leave the playground area where your parents or the adult taking care of you is

Be careful around slide, swings and other equipment that has been in the sun. Ask an adult to check to make sure they are not too hot

Pool safety

Don’t play in or near the pool without an adult

No running near the pool

If the child can stand in the pool, instruct him or her how far/deep they are allowed to go safely

Trampoline safety

Don’t jump on a trampoline with other kids

Only use a trampoline that has mesh safety walls

Only use a trampoline with adult supervision

Following a few of these safety tips and re-enforcing them to your children can help ensure a fun and safe summer.

For more tips on summer safety topics to review with your children, talk to your child’s physician.

How can summer’s extreme heat affect children?

Children’s body heat can rise faster than an adult’s, and it only takes a few minutes for children’s bodies to become overheated, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Health effects that could be caused by extreme heat, according to the AAP, include:

Dehydration – Caused by not drinking enough water. The hotter it is and the more active your child is, the more frequently they need to drink water.

Heat cramps – Low salt levels caused by sweating can cause these painful muscle cramps. The cramps are typically in the hands, arms, legs and abdomen and are usually the first sign that the body is having trouble with the heat.

Heat exhaustion – Loss of water through heavy sweating causes this mild form of shock. Heavy sweating, extreme weakness and fatigue, dizziness and clammy skin are all signs of heat exhaustion.

What areas of a family’s life should be considered when creating a health transition from summer to school?

Dr. Weber discusses health transitions from summer to school. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What areas of a family’s life should be considered when creating a health transition from summer to school?

In general when you’re talking of transitioning from a summer environment to starting a school year most families need to have a regular routine. Children in most stages do well when they have a regular routine they follow so establishing a routine late in the summer to get in toward the school year is always a good idea. Rather than having open-ended days where kids go to bed when they want to and get up when they want to, having a transition where the days are more organized toward that school year will help in general. If kids are going to a new school sometimes it’s a good idea to physically check out where the new school is, see the lay of the land. Perhaps, if possible, attend an open house where they can meet with new teachers, their potential classmates, those are always good ideas. Also to decide how a student will get to and from school. Are they going to walk, take the bus, ride their bikes . . . if so try to have a good safety plan how to get to and from school in a safe manner. As far as getting things ready for school, most schools have a list of supplies you can buy but for the most part students need very few things to go to school. Most things are actually supplied. Having a small list of school items they need is a good idea while most people, parents can get those things way in advance of the school year starting. Just generally having a good routine and slowly transitioning back from sort of days with not a lot of structure to more structure as the school year nears will help them get into school without such a shock to the system as far as making that change from being in the summer do nothing to being a more structured school environment.

Working your way from a looser summer routine back into a more structured school-year routine is a great way to get a healthy start to school.

Healthy breakfast – Give your kids healthy fuel to start the day. Try a fresh fruit and spinach smoothie, some oatmeal or some fruit and nuts.

Walk/bike to and from school – Incorporate healthy activity by taking an opportunity to walk or bike with your kids to school when you can. If they’re old enough, encourage them to walk or bike to school with friends and use it as an opportunity to talk about safety.

Smart lunches – Work to cut back on sugary drinks in your kids’ lunches by packing a water bottle instead. Try to include something protein-rich, like some almonds or apples with peanut butter. And, don’t forget to add a cooling pack of some kind to keep their lunch at the right temperature.

After-school activity – Once your kids are home from school, encourage them to have some fun outside when the weather is nice. Also, signing them up for after school activities, such as sports or dance, can keep the couch and screen time to a minimum.

Hit the hay – Children should be getting 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night, and teens need at least eight hours. Starting to get back into good sleep habits before summer ends will help once school starts.

Comfy clothes – Help your kids choose loose fitting, comfortable clothes that don’t restrict movement and play while at school. Also make sure they’re wearing shoes that will let them be active – sneakers are always a good choice.

Starting off the school year on a healthy note can help the transition from summer to school go as smoothly as possible.

For more information about making a healthy transition from summer to school, talk with your physician.

How can a family work to transition their sleep schedule before school starts?

Dr. Weber discusses how to transition sleep schedules from summertime to school time. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How can a family work to transition their sleep schedule before school starts?

Transitioning from a summertime sleep routine where you’re on vacation time sleep routine to a school environment again can be difficult at times. Most of us know that teenagers, even on the weekends, will have to get up during the school day or school week at 7 o’clock in the morning, go to sleep at 10 but on the weekends will stay up very late at night and get up very late the next day. That’s a significant, hard thing for the body to deal with so what we recommend in general is that even in the summer to try to keep regular bedtime hours, it doesn’t have to be as tight as during the school year when it’s highly regimented but I do suggest that rather than letting children go to bed at 2 o’clock in the morning and get up at 3 o’clock in the next afternoon that they maybe go to bed at the latest midnight if they’re teenagers but still get up around 8 or 10 o’clock in other words not making huge swings because the body’s biologic clock if you try to change that clock too quickly then it’s hard for the body to adapt to that. So, as the school year really draws close slowly getting approximately to the schedule the kids will be on prior to the start of the school year for at least a week is always a good idea. It would not be a good idea to have them go to bed at midnight the Saturday before school and expect them to go to bed at 8 o’clock the next night and getting up at 7 o’clock on a Monday morning for school. A slow transition but really the important thing regarding the time of the year is for children try to keep them on somewhat of a regular schedule with their sleep routine every night within certain guidelines and certain exceptions depending on what the family is doing during the summer but as school approaches especially to try a week or two to transition where they’re getting closer and closer to that school routine will really ease that transition to make the first week of school go a lot better.

Before the school year starts up, it’s important to start working from a less-strict summer sleep routine to a more-planned school sleep schedule.

Starting 10 to 14 days before school begins, gradually help your kids adjust back into their school year sleep schedule, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).

The foundation also recommends the following steps to help kids have a goodnight sleep every night:

Create a comfortable sleeping environment that is cool, quiet and dimly lit

Exercise and healthy eating both help promote good sleep

Have a relaxing routine that helps your kids wind down and fall to sleep peacefully

Keep electronics out of kids’ bedrooms, and make sure the end screen time at least an hour before bed

Stick with your bedtime as often as possible, even on weekends

Young children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night, and teens need at least eight hours of sleep, according to the American Council on Exercise.

For more information about getting you kids back into a good school time sleep routine, talk with your doctor.

What should parents keep in mind when choosing a backpack for their child?

Some school supplies are fairly easy to check off the list – crayons, pencils, notebooks, binders. But one school supply can have a negative effect on your child’s health if you don’t choose carefully.

When shopping for a backpack, your child might be most excited to find one covered in their favorite princess or superhero. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), however, recommends paying more attention to other parts of the backpack:

Overall lightweight material

Padded back

Strap that fastens around the waist

Two shoulder straps

Wide, padded shoulder straps

Choosing a backpack that has these parts will help to make sure your child doesn’t have pain in his or her neck, back or shoulders from carrying things to and from school.

For more tips about what to looks for when picking a backpack for your child, talk with your child’s physician.

What are some tips parents can share with their children about correctly carrying a backpack?

Dr. Weber discusses tips for carrying a backpack correctly. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What are some tips parents can share with their children about correctly carrying a backpack?

The American Academy of Pediatrics amongst other folks and organizations has guidelines for back pack use. In general, make sure the back pack fit comfortably so they sized appropriately for the child you have; have adequate support or shoulder strap padding so they’ll ride nicely and not cause any chafing or irritation. There is a recommendation that says the back pack’s total weight, in other words the amount of stuff in the back pack, should not exceed 10 percent of your child’s weight total. That’s not a lot when you think about it. The big concern is that most kids carry far more than that in their back packs on a daily basis so they’re overburdened. Try to limit the total weight of the back pack to about 10 percent of your child’s weight is a good rule of thumb. The second thing is to make sure the back pack is organized well. Most back packs have a series of partitions and zippers and compartments. Try to put the bigger things . . . the bigger books and notebooks close to the body and the smaller peripheral stuff like pens and pencils further away in the smaller compartments. That will help distribute the weight more equally so that it doesn’t cause any undue stress or change in balance in trying to carry the back pack. There is also a recommendation if possible, many if not all the new back packs have the ability to be put on rollers or have rollers built in and obviously if you can pull the back pack along like a small suitcase that’s obviously a lot less strain on your back than carrying it on your back. So that’s a possibility at a lot of the schools that having a back pack with wheels is a nice alternative as well.

Because of all the books, notebooks and other belongings kids carry to and from school, backpacks that are too heavy and worn wrong can lead to muscle and joint issues, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Parents can help their kids prevent back, neck and shoulder pains – and potential posture problems – by teaching them the right ways to lift and carry their backpacks. According to the AAP, some tips include:

Be organized and use all the backpack compartments, putting the heavier things closer to the back

Bend using the knees, not at the waist, when wearing or lifting a heavy backpack

Pack lightly and include no more than 15 percent of the child’s bodyweight

Tighten the straps to keep the backpack close to the body, about two inches above the waist

Use both shoulder straps

The AAP also recommends helping your children to learn some back-strengthening exercises to build up their muscles, especially if they frequently carry a heavy backpack.

Talk to your doctor for more information about ways to help keep your kids from hurting their backs while carrying a backpack.

What symptoms can indicate that a backpack is negatively affecting a child?

From bruises to sprains, to strains and fractures, it’s estimated that more than 7,300 backpack-related injuries are treated annually, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Carrying a backpack that’s too heavy – more than about 15 percent of your child’s body weight – can have negative effects on a child’s neck, back and shoulders, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

Warning signs that could mean your child’s backpack is too heavy, according to the NSC, include:

Difficulty putting the backpack on or taking it off

Pain when wearing the backpack

Posture change with the backpack on

Red marks on the shoulders or back

Tingling or numbness

If you notice any of these issues with your child’s backpack, you should consider changing backpacks, lightening the backpack as much as possible, reviewing good techniques for carrying a backpack, and visiting your child’s doctor if you are concerned about his or her health.

Talk with your child’s doctor for more information about the signs your child’s backpack is too heavy and causing them health problems.

Have a routine – Whether it’s before dinner or after dinner, right after school or following a sports practice, sticking to the same time of day for homework and studying is key. Having a regular time for after-school work and maintaining the schedule, will quickly build this habit into your student’s daily routine.

Make space – Having a regular place for students to do homework and study is important. The place doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does need to be free from distractions, such as loud conversations and TV noise. A dining room or kitchen table is an example of someplace that works well for many families.

Be available and supportive – While it is good for students – especially as they get older – to be able to take the lead on school work, it’s helpful for them to know parents are there if needed. Check in to make sure your child doesn’t need any help understanding directions and tell them you are available if they have questions.

Talk with your doctor for more information about setting the tone for healthy study habits.

How can proper posture help studying?

Having good posture can help with more than just avoiding a pain in your neck and back. Keeping good posture while working at a computer, studying a text book, or writing a paper can help with a variety of issues from emotional fatigues to attention span, according to Premier Physician Network (PPN) physicians.

Additionally, having the proper posture can help avoid eye strain and headaches, PPN physicians say.

Having good posture keeps a person comfortable for a longer period of time, which helps maintain their attention and helps retain focus on the topic at hand, according to PPN physicians.

Talk to your doctor for more information about how proper posture can help with studying.

How do schools ensure that safety equipment is properly working?

Dr. Barrow discusses how schools ensure safety equipment is working correctly. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How do schools ensure that safety equipment is working properly?

Schools make certain that equipment is properly working in a variety of ways. A lot of that really falls to the coaches of the particular sport to know what their equipment is, and how it should look, and how it should fit. And then if they have questions, they can take care of getting the athletic trainers or the AD or the equipment representative to come in and look at it.

Probably one of the best examples are the football helmets, and those are evaluated by the athletic trainers as well as by coaches that have been trained on how to fit those. Now, that doesn't mean that every coach that puts on a helmet is automatically an expert on putting on helmets, but there's going to be someone on the staff that knows how to assess if they fit well. If there's any concern then, you need to get to either the athletic trainer or the athletic director or have one of the company reps look at it and see if everything is appropriate.

Safety equipment – specifically items used for athletes – often becomes the responsibility of coaches to check, according to Premier Physician Network (PPN) physicians.

Sports safety equipment, such as helmets and safety padding, are typically checked by coaches as part of an inventory process. If there are questions or concerns, an athletic trainer, athletic director or equipment representative can look at the equipment to determine good working condition, according to PPN physicians.

Athletic trainers will also help to make sure safety equipment not only works right but also fits right to keep athletes safe while playing different sports, according to PPN physicians.

Talk to your doctor for more information about how schools can ensure safety equipment is working properly.

Should all schools have an AED on site? Why is its presence important?

Dr. Barrow discusses why schools should have an AED on site. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

Should all schools have an AED onsite? Why is its presence important?

Schools should really have an AED on site because that can be a life-saving piece of equipment. And we know now that the time to electricity, that is the time from when somebody starts to have a cardiac event until we can deliver the shock, if they need a shock, is what often times determines what the outcome is going to be. So the faster we can get the electricity to the heart, that is the AED, the better off they're going to be.

So most schools have AEDs somewhere on the campus. You just want to make sure that they're in a place that they can be accessed and they're going to be by where the people are that are going to need it. For example, having it in the school clinic is not particularly helpful when you're on the football stadium. If it's in the football field, or on the football field, but it's locked in a case nobody has a key to, again, it's not going to be particularly helpful. So those are some things that you look at sometimes in your Emergency Action Plans, and think, "Okay, guys, I could get the AED, but it was locked." So what do we do to make sure that we can get it to the patient in times of need? Often times, too, the AED is really most helpful for the crowds or for the faculty and staff of the school or the officials, as opposed to the students. But nevertheless, having one can be life-saving.

An AED – automated external defibrillator – is a portable device that checks heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal heart rhythm, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). AED’s are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest, in which the heart stops beating unexpectedly and suddenly.

All schools should have AED’s on site, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) and Premier Physician Network (PPN) physicians.

However, it is not only important to have an AED accessible somewhere on school grounds, but specifically in the most needed places on school grounds, PPN physicians say. Though the school building is a good place to have an AED, if in a locked school building the device may not be able to help if needed in an emergency involving an athlete during a sporting event or practice, according to PPN physicians.

The AHA states that an AED should be placed where it can be used within 3 minutes of someone having a cardiac emergency. Deciding where on school grounds the devices should be located is an important consideration for schools when creating their emergency action plans.

What training and credentials should coaches and staff working with athletes have?

Dr. Barrow discusses training and credentials coaches and staff who work with athletes should have. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What training and credentials should coaches and staff working with athletes have?

The training that coaches and other athletic staff should have if they're working with athletes is basically to recognize emergency situations and activate an Emergency Medical System if that's necessary, as well as render the First Aid and first steps if somebody's having an emergency. We don't expect them to be doctors, we don't expect them to be nurses or paramedics. But we do expect them to learn, okay, these are the signs and symptoms of a concussion, or heat stroke or major hemorrhage. And so we teach them that in classes that are offered through the OHSAA as well as some of the hospitals and sports medicine centers. They're called Coaches' Clinics, for lack of a better term, that teaches them the emergency things that they need know as far as identifying who's been hurt, who might be seriously hurt and need to be squadded out, and that type of thing. That's done on a regular basis. They also include CPR as a part of that now, so all of our coaches are routinely getting certified in this Coaches' Clinic as well as in CPR.

In an ideal situation, all school staff should strive to have current training in first aid, CPR, and AED use, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

However, there must at least be a sufficient number of staff – which would include coaches – trained as responders, according to the AHA. This means they would be able to retrieve and bring emergency equipment to any part of the school ground within 3 minutes of a cardiac emergency. These responders should be trained in knowing how to respond to an emergency – for example, knowing to call 9-1-1 first – as well as knowing how to use an AED, be proficient in CPR, and be able to begin first aid steps as needed, according to the AHA.

Schools should do drills with staff throughout the year to practice what to do in the case of these types of emergencies, according to the AHA.

What are safety steps for easily childproofing a family home?

What are safety steps for easily childproofing a family home?

I tell parents, we start talking about childproofing even at the time of birth and this isn’t so much a school issue but you’re talking about childproofing in general. Questions we always ask at the well-child visits are: do you have working smoke alarms and smoke alarms should have working batteries that are checked twice a year generally the rule-of-thumb has been when you change your clocks in fall and spring to make sure your smoke alarm is working and checked regularly. Make sure the hot water is not too hot; the temperature of the hot water should be no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Essentially what that means is you should be able to turn your hot water tap on, let the hot water run a few minutes, put your hand in and if it’s scalding hot then by far the water is way too hot. If we had to pick a number then it’s 120 degrees or less. The time of scalding between water being 120 degrees and 130 degrees for a child is just a matter of minutes from what they would get scalded if the water is cooler, it’s much longer. So, we recommend 120 degrees. We do recommend gun safety so we don’t judge about gun ownership but our advice is if there are guns in the home they should be locked up in a gun safe, ammunition stored separately with locks on the triggers. Guns should be locked up in a gun safe and made safe with trigger locks in place at all times and ammunition stored separately. So those are three real basic things. The second thing we talk about even when kids are down to 9 to 12 months of age is getting down on their level. Once your child starts rolling or crawling they can get into stuff and by normal development everything goes in their mouth so I tell parents to crawl around on the ground or get the kids’ eye level and see what kind of trouble they could get into. That means covering plugs, moving cords, gating steps, locking windows, watching doors. Anything they can fall down, roll over, trip on, pull . . . if you have a lamp cord hanging down they can pull that to try to stand up and we don’t want a lamp falling on their head so everything needs to be secured. Many parents want a safe place, a little part of a room where they have sort of partitioned off where there’s really not a lot of trouble they could get into because as I said everything goes into these kids’ mouths. It’s even more important when they have older siblings. You may have a one-year-old who has a four-year-old sibling who may have very age-appropriate toys like Legos which are a classic and may be okay for a four-year-old but we don’t’ want a one-year-old putting small pieces of toys like Legos in their mouth and they may choke or aspirate. So childproofing with a second or third child is even more important because you have kids in other various levels of development and their ability to stay safe is different. So that’s a big one is childproofing, surveying the whole house can be an ongoing process. Kids tend to gravitate to things they shouldn’t get into like plugs and cords and things. Of course we recommend putting locks or latches on drawers and cabinets the kids shouldn’t get into. Most parents have that Tupperware drawer of pots and pans that kids can rattle around in but clearly anything with medicines, cleaners, soaps, poisons, matches or lighters should be out of reach. Those things need to be checked on a regular basis. It’s always an important thing to have is the Poison Control phone number home as well and a number for their pediatrician as well. So those are some real basic childproofing things in the house and of course out of the house we need to watch out for things like pools and ponds which many people have. Most states have specific rules about pools as far as having appropriate fencing. We don’t’ recommend trampolines and many families have those and other things. Bike helmets are always a good idea and required not by law yet for kids riding their bicycles. So those are some very basic indoor and outdoor safety issues that families can start with when trying to childproof the home.

One important part of keeping your children safe is making sure they can’t be harmed by things in your home.

Anti-scald devices – Install these in shower heads and sink faucets so your water doesn’t get hot enough to burn your child

Cordless window coverings – Some types of blind have a cord that can be pulled to lift them, and the cord can be a strangulation hazard for children. If you have blinds from before 2000 and cannot afford new ones without a cord, visit the Window Covering Safety Council at WindowCoverings.org for a free repair kit

Corner and edge bumpers – Attach these soft foam strips onto items such as end table and fire place ledges to help prevent children from being injured if they bump into them

Door knob covers and door locks – These can keep kids out of places that are dangerous for them, but can still be opened quickly and easily by adults

Furniture and large appliance anchors – To avoid bookshelves, TVs and other large household items from tipping over on your infant or climbing toddler, install an anchor that secures these things to the wall.

Outlet covers – Pop a cover in every open outlet in your home to help prevent electrocution

Safety gates – Keep fearless babies and toddlers from tumbling down stairs or into rooms they shouldn’t be in by installing a safety gate to block off part of your home

One other area the CSPC recommends taking extra safety measures with is a pool, if you have one at your home. Make sure to keep a door that leads out to the pool area closed and locked. Having an alarm on the door that leads to the pool could be a lifesaver. The CSPC also recommends building an at least 4-foot-tall fence with a self-latching gate completely around your pool to keep unsupervised children out.

For more information about childproofing your own home, talk with your doctor.

What role should or shouldn’t screens play in a baby or toddler’s life?

Dr. Weber discusses the role of screens in the lives of babies and toddlers. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What role should or shouldn’t screens play in a baby or toddler’s life?

The American Academy of Pediatrics this fall has released new guidelines, having new policies for both the use of electronic and social media for infants and small children and for older children and adolescents. The feeling overall is that we're realizing now that screen time and electronic media are not going away and are playing a bigger role in families.The real feeling is that, for children still less than two years of age, the use of electronic and social media should still be very limited and always supervised by parents. There is some literature that says that children over 18 months of age can benefit from electronic forms of media such as FaceTime and Skyping, for example when they're visiting with a family member perhaps who's out of town, or a parent who is overseas serving in the military. That's felt to be a valuable tool that is beneficial with them, in other words they get that. The real feeling is that children learn much better from reading or playing sort of hands on games and interacting directly with real people in the real world than they do from passively responding to video games and to even learning applications on social media, tablets, cell phones. Along with that, we really feel that use of electronic media and electronic devices should not be our new pacifier for the new millennium. We see that often. We worry that children whose parents use the cell phone or a tablet to show movies or play music to pacify them or soothe them may not learn how to self-regulate on their own without such devices.

For children younger than 2, use of electronics should be very limited and always supervised by parents, according to the AAP.

One beneficial use, for example, is FaceTime or Skype for families who have one parent overseas or grandparents who live far away, according to Premier HealthNet (PPN) physicians.

These forms of media can be valuable tools in helping children stay connected with and recognize family members separated by distance, according to the AAP.

Screen access for this age of children should not, however, be used as a new form of pacifier, according to PPN physicians. Children who frequently play with a parent’s cell phone or tablet while in public might not learn how to control their behavior without using devices.

Talk to your doctor for more information about positive and negative screen time for babies and toddlers.

How can exposure to screens affect a child’s development?

Dr. Weber discusses the role of screens in the lives of babies and toddlers. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How can exposure to screens affect a child’s development?

Exposure to electronic media can, when used correctly, enhance children's development. For children that are two and over, if used properly with the right software or applications and with direct parental involvement, there can be some positive benefits. It's really felt that children learn best by hands-on, real life experiences rather than the sort of second hand experience from an electronic device. Especially for children less than 15 months of age, it was found that they have a hard time transferring that information that they may see on a screen to a three dimensional real world type of setting. The message I want to give is that for children especially less than five who are using electronic media, this should not be a passive experience. There should be a direct parent involvement to use as an educational tool.

A child’s development can be affected by how they are exposed to screens. When done the right way, exposing children to electronic media can be positive for development, according to Premier HealthNet (PPN) physicians.

When parents choose software and apps that promote learning, including language and math skills, young children can benefit, according to PPN physicians. Parents being involved during game play, however, is crucial to the learning process.

For more information about how screens affect a child’s development, talk with your doctor.

What are practical guidelines for parents who want to make smart choices about screen use for their child?

Dr. Weber discusses practical guidelines for parents who want to make smart choices about screen use for their child. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

What are practical guidelines for parents who want to make smart choices about screen use for their child?

Some basic guidelines for helping parents decide how to use electronic media and social media appropriately and safely for their children would include ... As I said for the very young, really extremely limited screen time for children less than two. And really the feeling is, for 18 months to two years, screen time should be used only in terms of FaceTiming or Skype to communicate with relatives, friends at a distance. After two years of age, if using appropriate software, there is some feeling and studies that support the positive benefit of using electronic media as a learning tool for children. Though again, hands-on learning with real toys and parental interaction and reading to children in a real way is still thought to be more beneficial overall. We still feel that just one hour of screen time a day for children two years of age or under is really what we'd recommend as a limit. I think the real limits should be that parents should be in charge and aware of how much kids are on their electronic devices just in general. For children five and over I think the main message now is to individualize that plan realizing that these electronic devices and media and the information we can get from those devices can be valuable for learning and social experience and exploration of the world. However, there is also a lot of bad in content out there, both bad content and content that is not true or accurate or fact-checked. We have to be careful of where we look even as adults to get our information, because anyone could post anything they want on internet and it may not be necessarily true.

Parents can feel stuck between doing what’s right for their kids and bending to let their kids play on electronic media.

Children younger than 2: Screen time should be extremely limited. When used for play, it should be in very short amounts of time and with a parent. One benefit to children is occasional use of FaceTime or Skype, which can allow children to communicate with relatives separated by distance. Overall screen time should be limited to no more than one hour a day.

Children 2 to 5: Screen time should still have a reasonable limit set by parents. When children do use electronic media, parents should participate.

Children 5 and older: Though information and applications on electronic devices can be beneficial for learning, they should not be the only way a child learns. Learning from hands-on play and social experiences has still been found to be more beneficial than media use, which should remain limited. Also, adults need to be involved in monitoring content to make sure it is appropriate. Adults should make a point to teach kids about how to find appropriate, safe, and accurate information when using media as they get older.

For more information about how to regulate screen time with children, talk with your physician.

What is ADHD?

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a chronic medical condition of the brain. It's an interruption in a chemical process involving dopamine. We all make dopamine and they found out that if you don't have adequate levels of it, you’re not able to filter out things in your mind. You're easily distracted, it's difficult to be organized, so what we do is we offer treatments to try to increase dopamine so they can filter out things and be able to get organized and stay on task.

ADHD – Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder – is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders to affect children. It also affects many adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Having ADHD can cause difficulty paying attention, trouble controlling impulsive behavior, and a need to be overly active.

The chronic medical condition of the brain is caused when the chemical process involving dopamine is interrupted, according to Premier Physician Network (PPN) physicians.

Without enough dopamine, it’s hard for our brains to filter things, which can cause us to be easily distracted and unorganized in our thoughts and actions.

How is ADHD diagnosed?

Dr. Mark Casdorph discusses how ADHD is diagnosed. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How is ADHD diagnosed?

When we look at someone to see if they have ADHD, the first thing we use is the parent history. They tell us from the moment the child was born up to the present time. And people with ADHD have a track record of having symptoms of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulse control problems. So, they can provide that from the parents.

The second thing that we do is we gather information from the school. Now, a lot of times the parents can provide that information, or sometimes if need be, there's forms and questionnaires we ask the teachers for their input.

And then finally, there's a comprehensive examination where you look at the child, you watch them in the room, you interact with them, you talk with them, and you get an idea pretty quickly about what's going on as far as ADHD.

Several steps are involved in diagnosing ADHD.

The first step is a medical exam that includes hearing tests and vision tests to rule out other health issues with symptoms similar to ADHD, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

A patient history is also taken. With this, parents describe symptoms from when their child was born until the current time, according to Premier Physician Network (PPN) physicians.

Next, information is gathered from your child’s school about how he or she behaves, interacts with others, and learns.

The final part of the exam to diagnose ADHD is a time when the doctor can observe and interact with your child to see any ADHD signs or symptoms firsthand.

How can ADHD affect a child’s life?

Dr. Mark Casdorph discusses how ADHD can affect a child’s life. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How can ADHD affect a child’s life?

ADHD can have a profound effect on a child. And it'll set them on a life path that is not good. A child early on will learn that teachers are irritated with them, and if they struggle with grades, they develop a sense that they're not smart.

We see depression coming out of this. We see anxiety coming from this. Kids will underachieve. Also, they found if you have ADHD that is not treated, you're at a much higher risk for developing an addiction, substance abuse problem, marijuana, tobacco, alcohol. It's all there. Kids with untreated ADHD have a much higher risk of unwanted teenage pregnancies. And, there's a substantial risk for car accidents if you have untreated ADHD.

People with ADHD do not get the jobs they want. They learn pretty quickly that they might not be the most employable. So, definitely it's a life path that someone's on if they have ADHD that's not being treated.

ADHD can affect a child’s life in many ways. Unfortunately, many of those ways can be negative unless you work with your doctor to find the right care and treatment for your child.

How have treatments and the understanding of ADHD changed in recent years?

Dr. Mark Casdorph discusses how treatments and the understanding of ADHD have changed in recent years. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

How have treatments and the understanding of ADHD changed in recent years?

In the past, it was commonly thought, and there's still elements of it, that the child can somehow control themselves. And so parents will use spanking, or they'll use bribing, or they'll use prayers, anything they can to try to get a child to not be symptomatic. It doesn't work.

So, we now know that it's a brain chemistry issue, just the same as if somebody had diabetes. We identify it as a medical condition and we treat it appropriately. And because they're children that we initially treat, we particularly look at what's the best approach. Treatment using medicines, behavior training, all those factors.

Years ago, people thought that children who couldn’t sit still, spoke out of turn and did poorly in school were just misbehaving.

The thought was that children should be able to control themselves and do as they were told. But after spanking, punishing and bribing, the problems continued, according to Premier Physician Network (PPN) physicians.

Now, we know there are problems in the brain chemistry that make ADHD a medical issue.

We know that children and adults who are treated for ADHD with medication, behavioral training, or in other ways are better able to manage their energy and live full, healthy lives.

For more information about how treatment and the understanding of ADHD has changed in recent years, talk with your doctor.

This website provides general medical information that should be used for informative and educational purposes only. Information found here should not be used as a substitute for the personal, professional medical advice of your physician. Do not begin any course of treatment without consulting a physician.